Classifications
Is this religion Mono/Poly/Henotheistic?
Islam is the second largest religion in the world of to Christianity. It has more than one and half of billion followers called Muslims. The people only believe in one God which is a Monotheistic religion, and Allah is the Arabic word for God. Muslims believe that God revealed his Holy Scriptures to a profit on earth and his words were recording on the corrine. People believe that God sent the angel Gabriel to a man named Muhammad, an ordinary camel driver who lived in the city of Mecca. Muhammad was told that he was God’s chosen prophet, or messenger. From that day forth, Muhammad Preached the word of God as he received it. These messages were written in Koran, the sacred book of Islam.
Islam is the second largest religion in the world of to Christianity. It has more than one and half of billion followers called Muslims. The people only believe in one God which is a Monotheistic religion, and Allah is the Arabic word for God. Muslims believe that God revealed his Holy Scriptures to a profit on earth and his words were recording on the corrine. People believe that God sent the angel Gabriel to a man named Muhammad, an ordinary camel driver who lived in the city of Mecca. Muhammad was told that he was God’s chosen prophet, or messenger. From that day forth, Muhammad Preached the word of God as he received it. These messages were written in Koran, the sacred book of Islam.
Founding Story
How did this religion begin?
One night at age 40 in about 610, Muhammad is said to have received the first of his revelations from God. The angel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to recite the words that later became part of the Quran. “Recite,” Gabriel said, “in the name of the Lord who created man from clots of blood. Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One, who by the pen taught man what he did not know.” Muhammad began preaching the message of monotheism a belief in the one true God. He also taught that Idolatry was wrong. This concept was highly controversial, as Arabs had been worshipping a number of gods for many years. Muhammad was increasingly seen as danger to the existing way of life and a threat to the Meccan economy. Merchants, in particular feared that if Arabs became followers of Muhammad and stopped making pilgrimages to Mecca to worship idols at the Kaaba, they would stop spending money there, and the merchants would no longer prosper. So, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted for their beliefs and for their disruption of Meccan life. Fleeing persecution, Muhammad organized an exodus out of Mecca in 622. He and his small band of followers moved to the nearby city of Medina. This migration is known as the Hegira. This momentous event is important for two reasons: it signifies the beginning of the Islamic calendar; and it recognizes the beginning of Islam an an organized religion. |
Key Figures
Important people to the story
Abraham and his wife’s servant, Hagar had a son named Ishmael. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away when Abraham’s wife Sarah had a son Isaac. Hagar and Ismael traveled to what came to be called the city of Mecca (the birthplace of Islam). There they found a sacred well. This well provided them with the water they needed to live. When Ishmael grew to be an adult Abraham visited him in Mecca. There, next to the sacred well Abraham and Ismael (a prophet like his father) built a temple to God. This temple is called the Kaaba. It is the holiest shrine of the Islamic faith. In the wall of Kaaba, the two prophets placed the Black Stone . Muslims believe the Black Stone fell from heaven as a sign of the first covenant between God and humankind. Although the Kaaba was built as a temple to God, many Arabs before Islam filled it with idols that represented a number of Gods. These Arabs then made pilgrimages there to worship the idols. It was not until Mecca, in 630, that the Kaaba was cleansed of its idols and returned to its original state of holiness as a temple to the one God of Islam - Allah.
Abraham and his wife’s servant, Hagar had a son named Ishmael. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away when Abraham’s wife Sarah had a son Isaac. Hagar and Ismael traveled to what came to be called the city of Mecca (the birthplace of Islam). There they found a sacred well. This well provided them with the water they needed to live. When Ishmael grew to be an adult Abraham visited him in Mecca. There, next to the sacred well Abraham and Ismael (a prophet like his father) built a temple to God. This temple is called the Kaaba. It is the holiest shrine of the Islamic faith. In the wall of Kaaba, the two prophets placed the Black Stone . Muslims believe the Black Stone fell from heaven as a sign of the first covenant between God and humankind. Although the Kaaba was built as a temple to God, many Arabs before Islam filled it with idols that represented a number of Gods. These Arabs then made pilgrimages there to worship the idols. It was not until Mecca, in 630, that the Kaaba was cleansed of its idols and returned to its original state of holiness as a temple to the one God of Islam - Allah.
Religious Authority
Who or what makes the rules?
The Quran is the holy book of Muslims. It is one of the greatest and most widely read books in the world. Its teachings are the heart of Islamic belief, and its basic message is that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. Muslims believe the Quran contains the actual words of God. These words came form of revelations. These revelations are believed to have been sent from God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet, Muhammad. Muhammad then passed them on to his followers who became known as Muslims. The Quran is considered perfect and is written in Arabic. It cannot be added to or changed. This protects it from any type of corruption. Though the Quran has been translated, Muslims believe translations are uninspired and not the true word of God. Therefore, Muslims have always studied the Quran in its original form. Even young children must recite the words in Arabic, regardless of whether they fully understand them or not. Students are encouraged to memorize as much of the Quran as they can. This requires great devotion and diligence as the Quran contains 114 surahs (chapters). The surahs range in length from a few lines to several hundred verses. In this entirety, the Quran is a little shorter than the new testament. Sacred texts are the Qur’an, or Koran (Allah's word revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel), the Hadith ( Muhammad teachings), and the Sharia ( Islamic laws combining Qur’an and Sunnah). |
Core Beliefs
Goals. Goals of the religion
The ultimate goal of the Islamic religion is for Muslims to live a good life and go up to heaven on Judgement day. Also honoring the five pillars and following the rules of the religion.
The ultimate goal of the Islamic religion is for Muslims to live a good life and go up to heaven on Judgement day. Also honoring the five pillars and following the rules of the religion.
Beliefs about the afterlife
There is life after death, and this life is a test in preparation for one to follow. Muslims are expected to live according to the Five pillars of Islam. People who honor the five pillars of Islam will go to heaven and lead a good life. Values, morals and virtues are also covered in the Quran. The holy book teaches that Muslims may not lie, steal, or murder. It does not tolerate mistrust, impatience, or cruelty. The Quran says that Muslims must treat all of God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Muslims are encouraged to be kind, honest, merciful, courageous, compassionate, patient, and polite. Another principle teaching of the Quran concerns judgment Day. On this day, the Quran says that all people must stand before God and be accountable for the way they lived their lives. The Quran teaches that life is a test, and we will either be rewarded or punished for our actions after we die. It promises that all who live according to God’s word will go to paradise. Muslims believes that those who choose not to follow God’s word end up in a fiery hell.
There is life after death, and this life is a test in preparation for one to follow. Muslims are expected to live according to the Five pillars of Islam. People who honor the five pillars of Islam will go to heaven and lead a good life. Values, morals and virtues are also covered in the Quran. The holy book teaches that Muslims may not lie, steal, or murder. It does not tolerate mistrust, impatience, or cruelty. The Quran says that Muslims must treat all of God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Muslims are encouraged to be kind, honest, merciful, courageous, compassionate, patient, and polite. Another principle teaching of the Quran concerns judgment Day. On this day, the Quran says that all people must stand before God and be accountable for the way they lived their lives. The Quran teaches that life is a test, and we will either be rewarded or punished for our actions after we die. It promises that all who live according to God’s word will go to paradise. Muslims believes that those who choose not to follow God’s word end up in a fiery hell.
Rules/guidelines for daily life
Islam is based on five duties called the Five Pillars of Islam. The first duty is to state the faith. The second is to say prayers. Praying involves speaking certain verses from the Koran while facing certain directions at certain times. The third duty is to give alms, or money to the poor. Alms must equal 2.5% of a person’s wealth. The fourth duty is to fast, or go without food and drink. Fasting takes place during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims must not eat or drink anything from dawn to dusk. The last duty is to make a pilgrimage, or trip to a place that has special religious importance. In Islam is Mecca. Every Muslim must try to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Teachings of Islam is that pork and alcohol are forbidden. Women face and hands must be covered and clothing must not show off the shape of the body. Rules of marriage stating clearly who can marry whom. It has rules about inheritance, declaring exactly how wealth should be divided after someone has died. Islam forbids gambling and is not allowed interest or to be charged on loans. It says what crimes should be punished and how. The rules come from the Koran, as well as from hadith the sayings and customs of Muhammad. Islamic laws, taken as a whole, are called the sharia. Muslims must wash before their daily prayers. They can say prayers anywhere as longs as they are facing Mecca. On Fridays Muslims go to the mosque for the noon prayer. One person leads, but all the people say the same prayers. Women and Men pray separately. Most activities for women and mean are separate in Islamic society. In general, men and women who are not close relatives must not socialize and in strict Islamic societies, they must not see each other. Homes in countries in which Islam is followed often have a private area for women into which male outsiders cannot set foot. |
Concept of higher power
The basic beliefs of Islam are that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his messenger. In Arabic, God is called Allah. The word “Islam” means surrender. The word Muslim means one who surrenders to God. All muslims are considered equal and part of the large community of believers. Every year more than three million Muslims take the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to praise God or Allah all together. Is the largest annual gathering people on earth the crowd is so big. The Hajj is a very important rite of passage for Muslims, you go to Mecca and the little cube like building is called the Ka’bah. That’s very significant in the sense that it signifies the oneness of God. Muslims all around the world wherever they are they all pray towards Ka’bah signifying the oneness of God. The Kabah is at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and is the holiest place in Islam. Millions of Muslims walk around the Kabah seven times anti-clockwise to submit to Allah.
The basic beliefs of Islam are that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his messenger. In Arabic, God is called Allah. The word “Islam” means surrender. The word Muslim means one who surrenders to God. All muslims are considered equal and part of the large community of believers. Every year more than three million Muslims take the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to praise God or Allah all together. Is the largest annual gathering people on earth the crowd is so big. The Hajj is a very important rite of passage for Muslims, you go to Mecca and the little cube like building is called the Ka’bah. That’s very significant in the sense that it signifies the oneness of God. Muslims all around the world wherever they are they all pray towards Ka’bah signifying the oneness of God. The Kabah is at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and is the holiest place in Islam. Millions of Muslims walk around the Kabah seven times anti-clockwise to submit to Allah.
Key Holidays
Some important festivals and holy days are Muhammad's departure from Mecca - Muharram 1, Muhammad's ascension to heaven - Rajab 27. Also Ramadan - Ramadan 1 which is fasting between dawn and dusk, Eid-ul-Fitr (festival of breaking the fast) - Shawwal 1. The last 2 are Month of pilgrimages - Dhul- hijja 8-13 and Eid-ul-Adha (feast of sacrifice) - Dhul-hijja 10).
Some important festivals and holy days are Muhammad's departure from Mecca - Muharram 1, Muhammad's ascension to heaven - Rajab 27. Also Ramadan - Ramadan 1 which is fasting between dawn and dusk, Eid-ul-Fitr (festival of breaking the fast) - Shawwal 1. The last 2 are Month of pilgrimages - Dhul- hijja 8-13 and Eid-ul-Adha (feast of sacrifice) - Dhul-hijja 10).
Sites and Symbols
Famous places and images of the religion
Some important symbols are the Crescent and star. The Crescent and star are important because is the internationally recognized symbol for the Islamic religion. The Kaaba is Islam’s holiest site. Also Muhammad tomb in Medina is known as the Prophet’s tomb and is also one of Islam’s holy sites. |